Shatter — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈsha-tər/ shat·ter

Meaning & Definition of Shatter

Shatter (verb)

  1. to cause to drop or be dispersed
  2. to break at once into pieces
  3. to damage badly, ruin

Shatter (noun)

  1. fragment, shred —usually used in plural
  2. an act of shattering, the state of being shattered
  3. a result of shattering, shower

Shatter (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of

    "tried to restore their shattered hopes"

    similar: annihilate, cream, decimate, demolish, desolate, destroy, devastate, do in, extinguish, nuke, pull down, pulverize, raze, rub out, ruin, smash, tear down, total, vaporize, waste, wrack, wreck
    related: beat, best, clobber, conquer, crush, defeat, drub, lick, master, overbear, overcome, overmatch, prevail (over), rout, scotch, skunk, subdue, surmount, thrash, trim, triumph (over), trounce, wallop, whip, win (against), blast, blow up, break, cripple, damage, deface, deteriorate, disfigure, disintegrate, dissolve, dynamite, harm, impair, injure, mangle, mar, mutilate, spoil, vitiate, erode, scour, sweep (away), wash out, wear (away), dilapidate, disassemble, dismantle, gut, take down, unbuild, undo, unmake, blot out, efface, eradicate, expunge, exterminate, extirpate, liquidate, obliterate, remove, root (out), snuff (out), stamp (out), wipe out, despoil, havoc, loot, pillage, plunder, ravage, sack, trample, trash, vandalize, assassinate, butcher, cut down, dispatch, execute, fell, kill, kill off, massacre, mow (down), murder, slaughter, slay, take out, zap
    opposite: build, construct, erect, put up, raise, rear, set up
    near: doctor, fix, mend, patch, recondition, repair, revamp, create, invent, assemble, fabricate, fashion, forge, form, frame, make, manufacture, mold, produce, shape, bring about, constitute, establish, father, found, institute, organize, conserve, preserve, protect, save, rebuild, reconstruct, remodel, renovate, restore

  2. to cause to break open or into pieces by or as if by an explosive

    "shattered the sealed clay pot to find out what was inside"

    similar: blast, blow, blow up, burst, demolish, explode, pop, smash
    related: dynamite, annihilate, decimate, destroy, ruin, wreck, detonate, discharge, fragment, splinter
    near: collapse, implode

  3. to cause to break with violence and much noise

    "shattered the priceless vase in one clumsy fall"

    similar: break down, crash, smash
    related: bust, fracture, fragment, annihilate, bash, decimate, demolish, desolate, destroy, devastate, nuke, pulverize, ruin, tear down, total, vaporize, waste, wrack, wreck, shiver, splinter, split, crack, crunch, crush, snap

Shatter (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in chip, shard

    similar: chip, flake, shard, shiver, sliver, splinter, portion, section, segment, clipping, paring, shaving, end, leftover, oddment, remainder, remnant, stub, atom, crumb, dribble, fleck, flyspeck, grain, granule, molecule, morsel, mote, nubbin, nugget, particle, patch, scruple, snip, snippet, speck, tittle, cantle, shred, tatter, bit, fraction, fragment, piece, scrap

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Shatter

The most common words with a similar meaning to Shatter:

annihilate, cream, decimate, demolish, desolate, destroy, devastate, do in, extinguish, nuke, pull down, pulverize, raze, rub out, ruin, smash, tear down, total, vaporize, waste, wrack, wreck, blast, blow, blow up, burst, explode, pop, break down, crash, chip, flake, shard, shiver, sliver, splinter, portion, section, segment, clipping

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Shatter

Words with the opposite meaning of Shatter:

build, construct, erect, put up, raise, rear, set up

Related Words for Shatter

beat, best, clobber, conquer, crush, defeat, drub, lick, master, overbear, overcome, overmatch, prevail (over), rout, scotch, skunk, subdue, surmount, thrash, trim, triumph (over), trounce, wallop, whip, win (against), break, cripple, damage, deface, deteriorate

Near Antonyms of Shatter

doctor, fix, mend, patch, recondition, repair, revamp, create, invent, assemble, fabricate, fashion, forge, form, frame, make, manufacture, mold, produce, shape, bring about, constitute, establish, father, found, institute, organize, conserve, preserve, protect

Word Forms of Shatter

Inflections: shattered, shattering, shatters

Derived words: shatteringly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Shatter

Middle English schateren scatter

First known use: 14th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Shatter

Words & Phrases Containing Shatter

shatter cone

Frequently Asked Questions about Shatter

What does "Shatter" mean?

"Shatter" means to cause to drop or be dispersed. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to cause to drop or be dispersed. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Shatter"?

Other words for "Shatter" include annihilate, cream, decimate, demolish, desolate, destroy, devastate and do in. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Shatter" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Shatter"?

There are 177 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Shatter". Common alternatives include annihilate, cream, decimate, demolish, desolate, destroy, devastate, do in, extinguish and nuke.

What is the opposite of "Shatter"?

Antonyms of "Shatter" include build, construct, erect, put up, raise, rear and set up. Near antonyms include doctor, fix, mend and patch.

How do you use "Shatter" in a sentence?

Examples of "Shatter" in a sentence: "tried to restore their shattered hopes"; "shattered the sealed clay pot to find out what was inside"; "shattered the priceless vase in one clumsy fall".

Is "Shatter" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Shatter" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Shatter" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Shatter" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Shatter"?

"Shatter" is pronounced /ˈsha-tər/ and divided into syllables as shat·ter.